Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Masdar City will cost $22bn (£11.3bn), take eight years to build and be home to 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses.

The city will be mostly powered by solar energy and residents will move in travel pods running on magnetic tracks.

The city will make use of traditional Gulf architecture to create low-energy buildings, with natural air conditioning from wind towers.

Water will be provided through a solar-powered desalination plant, Masdar says. The city will need a quarter of the power required for a similar sized community, while its water needs will be 60% lower.

The city forms part of an ambitious plan to develop clean energy technologies.

In January, the government of Abu Dhabi announced a $15bn five-year initiative to develop clean energy technologies, calling it "the most ambitious sustainability project ever launched by a government".

As part of the plan, Abu Dhabi will become home to the world's largest hydrogen power plant.

The money is being channelled through the Masdar Initiative, a company established to develop and commercialise clean energy technologies, and Abu Dhabi hopes it will lead to international joint ventures involving much more money.

Abu Dhabi will invest $4bn of equity in the project and borrow some of the rest, Masdar said.

"We will monetise all carbon emission reductions... Such innovative financing has never been applied to the scale of an entire city."

Of course all of the money used to pay for this oasis in the desert will have come from oil revenues, but let's not worry about that part.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea. So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.-Coleridge

80s? Sophie? Bowie? Buggers? Brits? I am totally there.And I am really all about this club just as long as they promise to play this song.For at least one straight hour. Each and Every night.

It's murder on the dancefloorBut you better not kill the grooveDj, gonna burn this goddamn house right downOh, I know I know I know I know I know I knowAbout your kindAnd so and so and so and so and soI'll have to playIf you think you're getting awayI will prove you wrongI'll take you all the wayBoy, just come alongHear me when I sayHey, It's murder on the dancefloorBut you better not kill the grooveHey, Hey, Hey, Hey It's murder on the dancefloorBut you better not steal the movesDj, gonna burn this goddamn house right downOh I know I know I know I know I know I knowThere maybe othersAnd so and so and so and so and so and soYou'll just have to prayIf you think you're getting awayI will prove you wrongI'll take you all the wayStay another songI'll blow you all awayHey, It's murder on the dancefloorBut you better not kill the grooveHey, Hey, Hey, Hey Murder on the dancefloorBut you better not steal the movesDJ, gonna turn this house around somehowMurder on the dancefloorBut you better not kill the grooveHey, hey, hey, heyMurder on the dancefloorBut you better not steal the movesDj, gonna burn this goddamn house right down

(I LOVE THIS SONG)Sophie Ellis-Bexter Murder on The Dance Floor [download] Dj, gonna burn this goddamn house right down